Inspections / Building Dept

TOWN OF PHILLIPSBURG INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT

120 Filmore Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Phone: (908) 454-5500

ext 346 for Construction Permits:

If you are Buying/Selling Property or for Planning, Zoning, Certificate of Habitability, and Rentals: email pkays@phillipsburgnj.org

Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Monday-Friday

The Inspections Department administers:

  • All construction within the Town of Phillipsburg
  • Planning & Zoning questions and applications
  • All building, electrical, plumbing, and fire permits- Inspections are performed to insure that all construction is in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) of New Jersey and its adopted codes (please see forms at the bottom of page).
  •  Violations and/or fines
  • Certificates of Approval and Certificates of Occupancy when warranted.
  • Certificates of Habitability – required for the occupancy of a home. Inspections for the certificate are required to insure that properties are brought up to code. A minimum of 2 weeks is usually required.
  • Rental Registrations –  Submit the form and payment required every year in May (please see form below). A Certificate of Habitability is required yearly.  It is the responsibility of the property owner to make all appointments for inspections to acquire the Certificate of Habitability.

HELPFUL FORMS AND LINKS

FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HOME:

  1. After plans have been reviewed and accepted and the appropriate permits are issued, all final inspections are performed and approved by Subcode Officials (i.e. building, electric, fire protection, plumbing, elevator).
  2. Certificate of Occupancy (U.C.C. form F270) filled out in its entirety and submitted to the building department.
  3. Final Survey (for new buildings).
  4. New Home Warranty Plan (State, H.O.W. or private plan).
  5. Copy of Sanitary Inspections Certificate issued by the Warren County Board of Health (for food handling establishments only).
  6. Payment of Phillipsburg Sewage Connection fee (for new buildings only).
  7. Certificate of compliance issued by the Warren County Soil Conservation District (when applicable).
  8. Town of Phillipsburg Engineer’s Acknowledgement for release of Certificate.
  9. Town of Phillipsburg Zoning Officer’s Acknowledgement for release of Certificate.

Prior to a Certificate of Occupancy being issued, all final construction inspections should be performed and the applicant must provide the applicable information above before the Certificate is released.

When is a Construction Permit required?

A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter or demolish a structure in any way. Included in this category are those projects that change or add to any existing structure. The Town of Phillipsburg also requires a Clean Worksite Certification for renovations, alterations, and/or additions, to ensure projects in progress do not create an eyesore or other hazardous condition.

Required Inspections

  1. Construction work must be inspected in accordance with the State Uniform Construction Code Regulations (NJAC 5:23-2.18). This department will carry out such periodic inspections during the progress of the work as are necessary to insure that the work performed conforms to the approved plans and the requirements of the Uniform Construction Code.
  2. The responsible person in charge of the work must notify this office when work is ready for any required inspections. Requests for inspections must be made at least 24 hours prior to the time the inspection if desired. Inspections will be performed within three business days from the time the request is received. Work must not proceed which would hamper or preclude the inspection until approval has been given.
  3. There are four Primary Inspectors whose duties are to inspect the different aspects of the work performed. These are the Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection Inspectors.
  4. The following list should assist the property owner and contractors for which inspectors are responsible. The construction permit you obtained may include several subcodes (i.e. Building, Plumbing, Electric, or Fire Protection.) Therefore, each inspector will require access to the building to inspect the work. The inspectors are scheduled as the work progresses and under some circumstances the inspectors may be scheduled on the same day to minimize inconvenience.

Required Inspectors:

Building:

  • The bottom of footing trenches before placement of footings, inspections shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the building subcode. (Including forming & rebar when required by site conditions or the plans)
  • Foundations and all walls up to grade level prior to back fill. (Including the perimeter drainage system, damp proofing and waterproofing of the foundation when required by the code, site conditions or the plans)
  • All structural framing before the insulation and finish materials such as siding, and drywall etc. are installed.
  • Concrete slab floor inspections before placement of concrete (including when required by the code or the plans, the radon piping, gravel base, 6 mil polyethylene radon barrier, welded wire fabric and expansion and control joints.)

Electrical:

  • Rough wiring before walls are insulated and covered with finish materials. (Complete all splicing in boxes for this inspection)

Plumbing:

  • Rough plumbing (including any tests required by the Plumbing Subcode.)
  • Underground water, and sewer piping including all tests required by the Plumbing Subcode. (before it’s buried)

Building:

  • Insulation inspection
  • Drywall inspection (before tape & spackle in newly constructed buildings)

Electrical:

  • Final Electric Inspection (after all lighting, receptacle & switching outlets and all equipment are installed and in place.)

Plumbing:

  • Final Plumbing (after all fixtures are in place)

Building:

  • Final Building Inspection (also for the duct and mechanical systems)

Fire Protection:

  • Final Fire Protection Inspection (for smoke detectors & gas-fired furnaces.

Other Inspections

Electrical:

  • Underground wiring (before it’s buried) such as pool wiring or wiring to detached garages or landscape wiring.

Plumbing:

  • Gas piping and tests of piping
  • Oil tanks & piping
  • Water Heaters or Hot Water Boilers (gas or oil)

Fire Protection:

  • Gas Furnaces

Building:

  • Chimney liners, Fireplaces

When the Subcode officials sign off on the work, the Certificate of Occupancy or Approval will be processed and issued.

DOWNLOAD UCC PERMIT APPLICATION FORMS HERE